WASHINGTON, April 17, 2014 — The 2014 Spring Meeting and 9th Annual State and Local Procurement Symposium of the American Bar Association Section of State and Local Government Law and the Section of Public Contract Law will address a wide range of hot topics in state and local procurement procedures, including bid protests and false claims April 24-27 in Asheville, N.C.

Federal, state and local government officials and industry experts will discuss legal updates, case studies and policy involving government procurement.

“Legal Pickles, Planning Tools and Case Studies in Urban Ag” — There is an urban agricultural movement across the nation sprouting urban gardens, commercial farms, rooftop greens and front-yard stands. This expert panel will give practical guidance on legal obstacles to urban agriculture and discuss policy and planning initiatives that could open the way for more city farming.Friday, April 25, 9:15 – 10:45 a.m.

“Heirs Property, Legal Planning and Social Justice” — The Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act has been adopted in several states in an effort to help families, which are largely of African-American descent, protect the land their families own. Heirs’ property has been the subject of opportunistic acquisition by outsiders who acquire small fractional interests and then use partition by sale to acquire the rest. Panelists will provide best practices for dealing with these challenges.Friday, April 25, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

“Hot Topics in State and Local Procurement” — With government false claims on the rise, panelists will discuss some of the latest topics in government procurement, including bid protests and false claims.Friday, April 25, 8 – 9 a.m.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is one of the largest voluntary professional membership organizations in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. View our privacy statement online. Follow the latest ABA news at www.ambar.org/newsand on Twitter @ABANews.